Venetian blind installation bracket



May 21, 1957 Filed Nov. 2, 1953 IIIIIWHM a Nwl H. K. LORENTZEN VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HA/vs KLORENTZEN HIS ATTORNEYS May 21, 1957 H. K. LORENTZEN 2,792,999

VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION BRACKET Filed Nov. 2, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2o /2 4 20 46 9 F [5 45 H M H IHW' 0 M 8 i FIG. l2

INVENTOR HANS K LORENTZEN HI 5 ATTORNEYS 2,792,999 VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION BRACKET Hans K. Lorentzen, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Lorentzen Hardware Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 2, 1953, Serial No. 389,531

Claims. (Cl. 248-264 This invention relates to Venetian blinds and, more particularly, to so-called installation brackets for removably supporting a blind in position adjacent to a window or door opening. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application S. N. 199,483, filed Decemher 6, 1950, now abandoned.

A Venetian blind is essentially an assembly of superimposed, articulated slats which are carried by a head bar that extends across the top of the blind and on which is mounted mechanism for raising and tilting the slats of the blind. This arrangement facilitates installation of the blind as a unit. In the usual construction, installation brackets which have been secured to the window jamb are used to removably support the ends of the head bar.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved installation bracket for enclosed head bars which is adapted for economical quantity production and which may be formed of lighter gauge sheet metal without sacrifice of strength, which does not require separate lefts and rights, and which may be used for any type of Venetian blind mounting (inside mounting, outside mounting, or ceilingf mounting).

Among the further objects of the invention are the provision of an improved bracket in which the head-barsupporting flanges are reinforced against bending in an advantageous manner and in which a separate retainer is provided with improved latching means for holding the retainer in position on the bracket body.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies of construction, manufacture, and use will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

The installation bracket of the present invention is particularly suited for supporting a so-called enclosed head. This type of head bar is hollow, often being formed of a light gauge sheet metal channel that more or less encloses the lifting and tilting mechanism of the blind. Such head bars are usually larger in cross section than wooden head bars, which usually are used in conjunction with tilting mechanism that is located beneath the head bar.

In the form shown of the present invention, the installation bracket comprises a bracket body and a retainer, The bracket body is formed of a sheet metal stamping consisting of a vertical, generally rectangular, flat metal plate having bottom, top, and rearflanges extending perpendicularly from the plate. The bottom flange is adapted to support the end of a head bar and the rear flange aids in retaining the head bar in position on the bottom flange. The top flange enables the bracket to be used in a socalled ceiling mount installation, in which the bracket is secured to a ceiling or to the underside of some other horizontal surface. The top flange serves an additional purpose, in that it enables the bracket shown to be used interchangeably as either a right-hand of left-hand nite States Patent 0 bracket, eliminating the necessity for separate rights and lefts. When the bracket is shifted from the left side to "ice the right side, the top flange becomes the bottom flange, and vice versa. Accordingly, the top and bottom flanges preferably are formed similarly. Both the top and bottom flanges are securely attached to the rear flange to reinforce these flanges against bending under the weight of the blind.

Head bars are not normally cut precisely to fit tightly into the space between the rectangular plates of the two installation brackets. Instead, the head bar is somewhat shorter to assure that it will enter the space between the brackets. This is particularly true in stock blinds, in which the blinds and head bars therefor are usually made in incremental widths of one inch throughout the most widely used range of sizes. To prevent endwise movement of the head bar after it has been positioned on the installation brackets, and to prevent the possibility of an end of the head bar slipping off of one of the brackets, a

series of bendable tabs may be provided on the top and bottom flanges of the present brackets, these tabs being located at varying distances from the plate of the bracket and being bendable into the paths of the ends of the head bar to reduce endwise movement of the head bar.

The retainer of the bracket shown herein provides a front flange to hold the head bar in position within the brackets. This retainer is an entirely separate piece from the bracket body and engages over the outside of the top and bottom flanges to aid in supporting the flanges against bending under the weight of the blind. The retainer is held in place on the bracket body by latching engagement between the top and bottom flanges of the bracket body and rearwardly directed extensions of the retainer overlying (lying outside of) the flanges. In one form of the invention, the parts are unlatched by deflecting the top or bottom flange of the bracket: inwardly, and in a second form of the invention the parts are unlatched by movement of the retainer lengthwise of the head bar.

My invention isclearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as well as in the description, parts are at times identified by specific means for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best forms in which I have contemplated applying my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a Venetian blind, including a head bar and including installation brackets according to one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the installation bracket of Fig. 1, portions of the retainer being broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the bracket of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the bracket, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the retainer for the bracket of Figs. 1-5.

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic, perspective view of portions of the bracket and head bar.

Fig. 8 is an isometric exploded view of a second form of installation bracket according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the second form of the bracket, showing a method of engagingthe: retainer with the bracket body. i

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the second form of bracket after engagement of the retainer therewith.

Fig. 11 is an isometric view of the second form of bracket showing one method of disengaging the retainer from the bracket body.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the second form of bracket, taken generally along the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

As previously indicated, the forms shown of the present invention may be used interchangeably for receiving either the right-hand end or theleft-hand end of the head bar. The shift from one end to the other involves inverting the bracket, the bottom flange becoming the top flange and vice versa; and for this reason the bottom and top flanges are preferably identical. The brackets of Figs. 2l2 are depicted on the basis of being positioned to receive the left-hand end of the head bar, as viewed from the room side of the blind.

Referring to the first form of the invention shown in Figs. 17, the bracket consists of only two parts which, for convenience, will be called the bracket body and the retainer. The body, which is designated as a whole by 10, comprises a one-piece sheet metal stamping. The retainer, designated as a whole by 11, is also a one-piece sheet metal stamping.

The body comprises a substantially flat rectangular plate 12 (vertical when in installed position) provided with upper and lower horizontal marginal flanges 14, 14 and a vertical rear marginal flange 15. The lower flange 14 is adapted to receive and support one end of an enclosed head bar 13 of a Venetian blind. When the bracket is used at the right-hand end of the head bar, it is inverted, the flange 15 being kept at the rear. As a result of the inversion, the upper flange 14 becomes the lower flange and the lower flange becomes the upper flange. For convenience, that edge of each flange 14 which is connected to the plate 12 will be referred to as the inner edge and the opposite edge will be referred to as the outer edge. The plate 12 is provided with holes 16 to receive screws for mounting the bracket on the side of a window jamb, such mounting being known in the trade as an inside mounting. The rear flange 15 is provided with holes 17 to receive screws for mounting the bracket on the front of a window jamb, such mounting being known in the trade as an outside mounting.

Between the outer pair of screw holes 17, a boss 19, which acts as a filler, is pressed inwardly a distance at least equal to the thickness of the head of a round-headed screw such as would be sometimes used for securing the flange 15 to the front of a window jamb. When the bracket is mounted on the side of the jarnb, there are no screw heads at the holes 17 and, but for the filler boss 19, the head bar would slide rearwardly on the bracket so as to leave an unsightly gap between the retainer and the head bar. The filler boss 19 maintains the front of the head bar against the retainer 11 at the front of the bracket and thereby prevents the unsightly gap.

Both the upper and lower flanges 14, 14 are provided with outwardly pressed portions 219, 20 which preferably extend transversely for most of the width of the flanges. Each of these portions is provided with at least one hole 21 for receiving a mounting screw when the bracket is to be installed in a ceiling-type mounting. The portions 20 are pressed outwardly a distance at least equal to the thickness of the head of a round-headed screw such as might be used for securing the bracket in a ceiling mounting, so that the screw head does not project below the general level of the flange. In addition, these outwardly pressed portions serve an additional function in providing clearance in certain instances for application of the retainer 11, as will be explained, and also act as reinforcing ribs.

Each of the upper and lower flanges 14, 14 is attached to the rear flange 15 by means of an extension 22 at the rear of each flange 14 which projects in front of and parallel to the rear flange. The extensions 22, 22 are at the outer portions of the flanges 14, 14 (i. e., spaced from the plate 12) and are provided with laterally extending tabs 24, 24.which pass through slots 25, 25 in the rear flange and are bent flat against the rear flange. The

areas 26, 26 of the rear flange adjacent the slots 25, 25 may be depressed slightly for receiving the clinched tabs 24, 24 so as to preserve the planar mounting surface of the rear flange. The extensions 22, 22 lie within the space between the rear wall of the head bar and the rear flange 15 which is maintained by the filler 19 and thus do not interfere with the head bar.

The connection of the upper and lower flanges 1 t, 14 to the rear flange 15, as just described, serves to reinforce the flanges 1.4, 14 against bending under the weight of the blind, thus permitting the bracket to be fabricated of much lighter gauge sheet metal than would otherwise be required to provide a dependable and rigid bracket. The slots 25, 25 may be substantially wider than required to receive the tabs 24, 24 and the tabs may be tapered and provided with a round end as shown in Fig. 3. This facilitates insertion of the tabs into the slots, by affording lateral tolerance in all directions as the tab is entered into the slot. After the tab 24 has been completely inserted into the slot 25, the somewhat wider base portion of the tab extends substantially from end to end of the slot, thus providing a firm connection. For further convenience of manufacture, each tab 24 is bent down on the rear flange 15 in such direction as to extend in the same direction from the plate 12 as the flange does. Such construction facilitates successive bending of the flange and tab in a single operation conducted with a single set of dies.

The forward portion of each flange 14 may be provided with a transverse slot and a series of rearwardly extending longitudinal slots intersecting with the transverse slot to form a series of bendable tabs 27 extending generally parallel to, and spaced varying distances from, the plate 12. These slots may be formed by merely slitting the flanges, but preferably the slots have a substantial width to facilitate manufacture and use of the bracket. The one of these tabs in the lower flange 14 which is im mediately beyond the end of the head bar may easily be bent upwardly by the use of a screw driver or other hand tool after installation of the brackets and head bar to place the tab in the path of, and immediately adjacent,

the end of the head bar and thereby prevent endwisc movement of the head bar within the brackets (see Fig. 7).

The retainer 11 is generally L-shaped in transverse or horizontal cross section. It has a front flange 29 adapted to overlie the front wall of the head bar and has short, rearwardly extending. end flanges 30, 3% for extending above and below the upper and lower flanges 14, 14 respectively of the bracket body. The rear edge of each flange 30 is provided with a short, inwardly directed latching finger 31 which is adapted to be received within a transverse slot 32 in the adjacent flange 14. The elements 31, 31 and slots 32, 32 are preferably located adjacent the outer edges of the flanges 14, 14.

In applying the retainer 11 to the bracket, the upper finger 31 may be inserted into the slot 32 in the top flange 14 after which the corner portion of the lower flange 14 is flexed upwardly, by manual pressure, to permit engagement of the lower finger 31 with the slot 32 in the lower flange 14. To remove the retainer 11, re verse procedure may be used.

The retainer 11 is provided with a side flange 34 extending beside the inside face of the plate 12. The side flange is preferably offset slightly as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the forward portion of the flange 34 lying substantially in alignment with the plate 12 and covering its forward edge, while the rear portion 35 of the flange 34 lies against the inside face of the plate 12. Preferably, the plate 12 does not extend as far forwardly as the flanges 14, 14 to provide clearance for the forward portion of the side flange 34' of the retainer.

To aid in interlocking the bracket body and retainer, slots 36, 36 extend rearwardly a short distance along the junctions of the plate 12 with the forward portions of the flanges 14, 14, these slots receiving extensions 37, 37 of the side flange 34 of the retainer. The extensions 37, 37 extend a short distance beyond the outside faces of the flanges 14, 14 and aid in aligning the retainer on the bracket body for engagement of the latching elements or fingers 31, 31 with the slots 32, 32.

As above noted, the flanges 14, 14 are preferably identical and'both ends of the retainer 11 are preferably identical. Accordingly, the same bracket may be used with equal facility as either a right-hand or left-hand bracket. When engaging the retainer 11 it will usually be found easier to firstenter the side flange 34 within the slot 36 at the top of the bracket, then insert the top finger 31 in the top slot 32, and then swing the bottom of the retainer into latched position on the lower flange 14. Even in a ceiling-type mounting in which the bracket does not project forwardly of the horizontal mounting surface (e. g., when the bracket is attached to the top horizontal surface of a window opening), the portions 2h, 20 of the upper flange 14 will provide suflicient clearance of the flange from the supporting surface for engagement of the retainer with the bracket body.

The second form of bracket, shown in Figs. 8 12 of the drawings, is generally similar to the form of bracket just described, with the exception of the retainer and the specific latch construction for holding the retainer to the bracket body. The same reference characters have been used to denote similar parts of the two forms of brackets.

Referring now to the Figs. 812, the bracket body 39 may be substantially identical to the bracket body 10 previously described. It is preferably formed of a unitary sheet metal stamping consisting of a rectangular plate 12 provided with upper and lower horizontal marginal flanges 14, 14 and a vertical rear marginal flange 15. The rear flange 15 may be identical to the rear flange of the retainer 44 to the bracket body 39 over the tongues 41, 41.

The flanges 14, 14 are likewise preferably identical, as well as both ends of the retainer 44, so that this bracket may likewise be used with equal facility as either a right-hand or left-hand bracket. When engaging the retainer 44 with the bracket body 39, the end portions 46, 46 may be engaged outside of the flanges 14', 14' and then the retainer may be pressed rearwardly to en gage the tongues 41, 41 withinthe slots 47, 47 of the retainer, both the retainer and the flanges being slightly deflected. The outwardly flared ends of the retainer 44 facilitate engagement of the retainer with the bracket body. If desired, the retainer 44 may be engaged with the bracket body by first engaging an end therewith with one of the flanges 14', as illustrated in Fig. 9, in a manner generally similar to that described for the first form of the invention. The portions 20, 20 of the upper flange 14' likewise provide clearance for engagement of the retainer 44.

In the first form of bracket above described, the retainer 11 may be unlatched from the bracket body 10 by deflecting the forward portion of the lower flange 14 upwardly slightly to disengage the slot 32 of the flange from the upwardly directed tongue 31 of the retainer and permit the lower end of the retainer to be moved forwardly out of engagement with the flange. In the bracket according to the second form of the invention, the retainer 44 may be unlatched from the bracket body 39 in a generally similar manner, but preferably is unlatched by forcing the retainer sideways away from the 15 of the bracket previously described, and the flanges 14', 14 may be generally similar to the flanges 14, 14 of the bracket body 10 previously described. Preferably, the flanges 14,14 are connected to the rear flange 15 in a manner similar to that previously described for the bracket body 10. The flanges 14', 14 are provided with outwardly pressed portions 20, 20, which may be similar to the correspondingly numbered portions of the bracket previously described.

Preferably, the forward portions of the vertical plate 12 and the upper and lower flanges 14', 14' terminate in a common vertical plane at the forward side of the bracket. The forward portions of the flanges 14, 14 are each provided with a slot 40, the slot consisting of a transverse portion and a series of intersecting, rearwardly extending parallel slot portions defining a series of parallel, bendable tabs 27, which may be similar in all respects tothe tabs 27 of the first form of bracket previously described and similarly bent up to limit endwise movement of the head bar. Closely in front of the slot 40 of each flange 14, a rearwardly inclined, outwardly projecting transverse tongue 41 is formed. The tongue 41 preferably constitutes the forward wall of the slot 40 previously described. Preferably, the end 42 of the tongue 41 towards the rectangular plate 12 is beveled or otherwise inclined to assist in unlatching the retainer 44, as will be described.

The retainer 44 for the bracket according to the second form of the invention comprises a front flange portion 45 spanning between the forward ends of the flanges 14, 14 and rearwardly directed end portions 46, 46 overlying (lying outside of) the flanges 14', 14' of the bracket body. The width of the retainer 44 is preferably substantially the same as the width of the flanges 14, 14'. Each of the end portions 46, 46 of the retainer 44 is provided with a transverse slot 47 for latchingly receiving the tongue 41 of the adjacent flange 14. Preferably, the rear margin 49 of each end portion 46 is plate 12 by engaging a knife or screw driver between the plate and retainer, as indicated in Fig. 11, and prying the retainer sideways. As the retainer 44 is moved sideways, the inclined end 42 of each tongue 41 permits the end portions 46, 46 of the retainer to override the tongues 41, 41, deflecting both the retainer and the flanges 14', 14 somewhat.

In the brackets herein described, the top and bottom flanges 14 are supported and reinforced against bending by the rear flange as above described. The retainer,

which overlies the top and bottom flanges, also reinforces these flanges and aids in supporting them against bending under the weight of the blind.

In both forms of the bracket herein shown and described, the bendable tabs, Which limit endwise movement of the head bar, may be omitted if desired.

I' claim:

1. In a Venetian-blind-installation bracket in which (a) a rectangular vertical plate has marginal horizontal flanges and a rear flange which receive the end of the head bar in overlapping relation, (b) the bracket is reversible for supporting either end of the head bar of a Venetian blind, one horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the left end of the head bar and the other horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the right end of the head bar, (0) a resilient removable retainer holds the end of the head bar against forward movement and has rearwardly extending terminal portions which interlock with tongues that lie in a plane perpendicular to the vertical plate and that project upwardly and downwardly respectively at the front ends of the horizontal flanges, and (d) the bracket is provided with means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate; the improvement which comprises: (1) the rearwardly extending terminal portions of the retainer being transversely slotted to receive the tongues of the horizontal flanges and being also outwardly flared whereby these terminal portions may be readily interlocked with the tongues by rearward movement of the retainer, (2) the plate-adjacent edges of the tongues being inclined whereby the retainer may be disthe adjacent flange 14 of the bracket body (outwardly flared) to facilitate application engaged from the tongues by edgewise movement of the retainer away from the plate, and (3) the means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate being teeth formed of the metal of the horizontal flanges, the teeth being bendable to project across the adjacent portion of the end of the head bar.

2. In a Venetian-blind-installation bracket in which (a) a rectangular vertical plate has marginal horizontal flanges and a rear flange which receive the end of the head bar in overlapping relation, (b) the bracket is reversible for supporting either end of the head bar of a Venetian blind, one horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the left end of the head bar and the other horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the right end of the head bar, and (c) a resilient removable retainer holds the end of the head bar against forward movement and has rearwardly extending terminal portions which interlock with tongues that lie in a plane perpendicular to the vertical plate and that project upwardly and downwardly respectively at the front ends of the horizontal marginal flanges; the improvement which comprises: (1) the rearwardly extending terminal portions of the retainer being transversely slotted to receive the tongues of the horizontal flanges and being also outwardly flared whereby these terminal portions may be readily interlocked with the tongues by rearward movement of the retainer, and (2) the plate-adjacent edges of the tongues being inclined whereby the retainer may be disengaged from the tongues by edgewise movement of the retainer away from the plate.

3. In a Venetian-blind-installation bracket in which ta) i a rectangular vertical plate has marginal horizontal flanges and a rear flange which receive the end of the head bar in overlapping relation, (b) the bracket is reversible. for supporting either end of the head bar of a Venetian blind, one horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the left end of the head bar 'and the other horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used 'for supporting the right end of the head bar, (c) a retainer holds the end of the head bar against forward movement, and (d) the bracket is provided with means for maintaining spacing between the' end of the head bar and the vertical plate; the improvement which comprises: the means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate being a comb formed of the metal of each of the horizontal flanges, the teeth of each comb being located at different distances from the vertical plate, the teeth having free ends and, by pressure applied to their free ends, being selectively bendable to project across the adjacent end portion of the head bar and thereby maintain the head bar in selected spaced relation to the vertical plate.

4. In a Venetian-bltind-installation bracket in which (a) a rectangular vertical plate has marginal horizontal flanges and a rear flange which receive the end of the head bar in overlapping relation, (b) a retainer holds the end of the head bar against forward movement, and (c) the bracket is provided with means for maintaining spacingbetween the end of the head bar and the vertical plate; the improvement which comprises: the means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate being a comb formed in at least one of the flanges by a primary slot and intersecting secondary slots, the primary slot extending away from the vertical plate and the secondary slots extending parallel to the vertical plate at diiferent distances therefrom, thus providing a series of teeth located at different distances from the plate, the teeth having free ends and, by pressure applied to their free ends, being selectively bendable to project across the adjacent end portion of the head bar and thereby maintain the end of the head bar in selected spaced relation to the vertical plate.

5. In a Venetian-blind-installation bracket in which (a) a rectangular vertical plate has marginal horizontal flanges and a rear flange which receive the end of the head bar in overlapping relation, (b) the bracket is reversible for supporting either end of the head bar of a Venetian blind, one horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket is used for supporting the left end of the head bar and the other horizontal flange being at the bottom when the bracket-is used for supporting the right end of the head bar, (a) a resilient removable retainer holds the end of the head bar against forward movement and has rearwardly extending terminal portions which are detachably secured to the front end portions of the respective horizontal flanges by respective pairs of complementary interlocking formations, one formation of each pair being on one of the rearwardly extending terminal portions of the retainer and the other formation of each pair being on the front end portion of one of the horizontal flanges of the bracket, and (d) the bracket is provided with means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate; the improvement which comprises: (1) the interlocking formations extending perpendicularly of the vertical plate and the rearwardly extending terminal portions of the retainer being outwardly inclined whereby these terminal portions may be readily interlocked with the horizontal flanges by rearward movement of the retainer, (2) the plate-adjacent termini of one interlocking formation of each pair being inclined whereby the retainer may be disengaged from the horizontal flanges by edgewise movement of the retainer away from the plate, and (3) the means for maintaining spacing between the end of the head bar and the vertical plate being teeth formed of the metal of the horizontal flanges, the teeth being bendable to project across the adjacent portion of the end of the head bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

